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1 Portage, Wis. Oct 26/98 in margin: John has been taking a long trip East and South, but I fear he will not be able
to visit us this year. Dear Sister Emma I have heard that you are not very strong and I have thought of writing to you
for a long time. You know I have had good opportunity of finding out just how it seems to go pulling along without much strength
or energy to do the things that you would, or what need to be done. I hope that by this time you are better and that life
goes more cheerily for you. My health is better than usual this summer. I have not been able to do half of the things I would
like to do, but am still